medusa in norse mythology

King Polydictes wished to marry Danae but Perseus, by then an adult, opposed the union of his mother and the untrustworthy king. As the story goes, St. Patrick, a fifth-century Christian missionary, was fasting for 40 days atop a hill when he was attacked by snakes. Jormungand, one of three children of the shape-shifting god Loki and the giantess Angrboda, was thrown into the sea by Odin, father of the powerful thunder god Thor. Perseus allowed them to recreate a male form that fit classical notions of perfection. Their other siblings included the monsters Echidna, Scylla, and Ladon. After creating Medusa herself, the goddess seemed especially eager to aid the hero in the monsters destruction. This trio of sisters may have been intended as a dark version of a tripartite goddess. The affairs and children of Zeus. When Odysseus travels to the Underworld, he fears that Persephone will send the head of the Gorgon out of the house of Hades to attack him. The 13 Best TV Shows About Norse Gods and Norse Mythology - TVShowPilot As in modern . Medusa - Symbolizing the Power of the Feminine - Symbol Sage [22] A dragon-like creature with horns, the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird appears in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian Period until the Hellenistic Period (323 BC31 BC). Danae's father, Acrisius, King of Argos was told that he would be murdered by Danae's son. While Medusa was one of the most iconic and memorable monsters in Greek mythology, Sthenno and Euryale played only a minor role in the story and were never as well-developed. Tiresias gained a dual male-female nature and an insight into the supernatural world when he killed two snakes which were coupling in the woods. In ancient Slavic paganism a deity by the name of Veles presided over the underworld. The story of the monster Medusas death at the hands of the great hero Perseus is one of the most widely told myths from the Greek world. According to Hesiod, the Gorgon sisters made their home on the farthest side of the western sea. The Gorgons Of Greek Mythology Medusa, Stheno, And Euryale I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. This awesome sketch art card of Medusa from Greek mythology is drawn by the very talented artist Jane Manalo for our Classic Mythology IV trading card set. It's Norse mythology time! The Story of Medusa in Greek Mythology Explained Why Kill Medusa? This myth, a later addition to the story of Atlas, explained the creation of the Atlas Mountain range in North Africa. [9][10] The Dogon believe that Lebe is the very reincarnation of the Dogon's first ancestorwho was resurrected in the form of a snake. The snakes are painstakingly gathered and washed before the ceremony, which also involves members of the Antelope Clan. The world of fantasy is packed full of amazing mythical creatures such as Elves, Dwarfs and Giants. Medusa was not the only Gorgon, however. Horrified, the Graeae demanded the return of their sight. Medusa, the daughter of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, was the most feared of the Gorgons. Perseus manages to kill her, but only with the . Snakes in mythology - Wikipedia Medusa Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Why is Medusa Important? - Myth Nerd These were the creations of Hesiods stories and the legend of Perseus. He is almost always portrayed as a serpent or dragon depending on the particular myth. Examples include they decided to migrate to flee Islamization and persecution, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snakes_in_mythology&oldid=1144534248, This page was last edited on 14 March 2023, at 07:17. . Frigg is similar to Hera as the patron of marriage and motherhood. Nor did ancient writers specify what powers or abilities the Gorgon sisters possessed. Despite reinterpretation by feminists and revolutionaries, Medusas name retains its connotations of monotonousness and deformity. Norse Mythology Thesis Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, Frigg Do these names ring a bell to you? It's about going all the way. Lost in the telling are Medusas tragic origins and the unbelievable fate of her famous head. The Cap Of Invisibility is mentioned in Greek mythology. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. From the Aztec god of wind, rain and creation to the semi-divine human-snake creatures that guarded the Buddha, here are nine snakes or serpents that have emerged, through history or myth, to play important roles in the cultures they represent. The three gray-skinned sisters of the Gorgons were born with only one eye which they shared between them. [11][12][13], In the Sumerian culture snakes were also very important as a healing symbol. The Chimera's image remained consistent throughout the Greco-Roman era. Depending on the source, Medusa has different origins. The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. During the multi-day ritual, which is aimed at encouraging rainfall and fertility for the land, male dancers from the Snake Clan put live snakesranging from small garter snakes to rattlesnakesin their mouths and around their necks. birth to the two boys, Medusa's blood spilled onto the sands of Libya and a baby girl, Amphisbaena was born, during which Perseus was flying over the desert with the poor gorgon's head. Snakes have been associated with Hecate, the Greek goddess of magic and the lower world.[20]. By the time of Ovid, she was one of the worlds great beauties. Medusa is a dimorphic character in the popular imagination; either a tragic feminist hero or a terrifying monstrous villain. Medusas head, the gorgoneion, appeared constantly in Greek art. The Horned Serpent appears in the mythologies of many Native Americans. Despite her family connection to monsters, she fit the mould of many beautiful young human women in mythology. The tradition of the three Gorgon sisters appears to not be the only one in Greek mythology. In these roles, Medusa is more of an active monster than she ever was in Greek myths. His actions were described as a forceful violation. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Mythology Part 3, Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts 12. Frigg is a Norse goddess of love and fertility. The Gorgons personified just one of the many dangers of the sea. So let's check out some classic monsters from world mythology and see how accurately they're portrayed in D&D! The head of Medusa was the single most frequently used symbol in ancient Greek art. Two hundred soldiers were turned to stone, including at least one of his own men who accidentally looked at the artefact. Some versions of the story claim that Medusas sisters underwent the same change from beautiful to horrible, reconciling the disparity of showing only Medusa herself in that way. 15. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. medusa tattoo in 2023 | Greek mythology tattoos, Mythology tattoos In Hammurabis Law Code (c. 1700 BC) the god Ninazu is identified as the patron of healing, and his son, Ningishzida, is depicted with a serpent and staff symbol (Bunn 1967:618), Snakes were a common feature of many creation myths, for example many people in California and Australia had myths about the Rainbow Snake, which was either Mother Earth herself giving birth to all animals or a water-god whose writhing created rivers, creeks and oceans. In Greek mythology, the Gorgons were snake-women whose gazes would turn people to stone; they had serpents for hair, long claws, sharp teeth and scales covering their bodies. This created the first coral. He locked up Danae in a bronze chamber. Many Greek goddesses are not explicitly named as a single being in three parts, but are often interpreted within this archetype. Medusa in Greek Mythology - Origin Story & Death - World History Edu While Perseus beheaded Medusa, however, he still left two Gorgons alive. Poseidon and Athena were often at odds in the myths, and the disrespect of raping Medusa within her temple infuriated the goddess. When Perseus ran from the surviving Gorgons, he took their sisters head with him as proof of his deeds. The earliest stories of Medusa said that she always had a terrible, inhuman form. Medusa - Jane Manalo by Pernastudios on DeviantArt The serpent plays an active role in Dogon religion and cosmogony. Her name is even used in politics, being invoked in unfavorable descriptions of female politicians. Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae. So Minerva advised Perseus to only look at Medusa's reflection. In these, Poseidon not only took Medusa by force, but did so in a temple of Athena. Some say he honored the agreement and left the watchful Graeae in peace. According to some myths, Medusa, the most famous of the Gorgons, was originally a beautiful woman. This story only appears in one source, however. When he arrived at the sisters lair, the Gorgon was sleeping. French liberty was not heroic, but it was not content to resign itself to victim hood. Norse Gods vs Greek Gods: Similarities and Differences Little is known of Chrysaor, as he did not play a major role in later myths, except that he was later the father of a giant with three heads. Many later versions of the myth claimed that she was once a beautiful maiden loved by . 14 Best TV Shows About Greek Mythology - Screen Rant It is more likely, however, that the legends of the Gorgons came from two separate traditions. When Athena heard the cries of the Gorgons as they cried for their sister, she sought to emulate their mournful sounds. The Gorgon sisters were born to Ceto, goddess of sea monsters, and Phorcys, a primodial sea god with a fish's tail and crab claws. They wore snakes around their waists instead of normal belts. Greek mythology, like the culture that created, often made little distinction between seduction and rape. In Greek mythology, Medusa (Ancient Greek: ), meaning "guardian", "protectress" was a Gorgon, a chthonic female monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. But it didnt take long for that to change. Pegasus in Greek Mythology - Greek Legends and Myths Shesha in turn was supported on Kurma and when Kurma moved, Shesha stirred and yawned and the gaping of its jaws caused earthquakes.[14]. Outside a specifically Greek context the monsters are now seen as a universal type. She frequently appears as a villain in comic foods, video games, and fantasy movies. [2], The West African kingdom of Dahomey regarded snakes as immortal because they appeared to be reincarnated from themselves when they sloughed their skins. While Perseus beheaded Medusa, however, he still left two Gorgons alive. It is used, for example, in the scientific names of many animals to reference some particularly unsightly species and, of course, some snakes. Some later writers would say that Sthennos scream could kill a man, but this seems at odds with the story of Perseus and his escape from their lair. "In mythology, the Medusa can petrify people with a look, which is a good thing, I think. Valhalla, Old Norse Valhll, in Norse mythology, the hall of slain warriors, who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin. score: 22,174 , and 227 people voted. For thousands of years, members of the Hopi Native American tribe of northern Arizona have performed the ritual known as the Snake Dance. Mythical Creatures - The Ultimate List of Mythological Creatures The classical symbol of the Ouroboros depicts a snake in the act of eating its own tail. Completely devoid of monstrous connotations, they explained the use of the Gorgons head by praising its classical beauty. They drink liquor that flows from the udders of a goat, and their sport is to fight one . But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! "Here there is an evil dragon named Nidhogg that gnaws constantly at the root, striving to destroy Yggdrasil" [19] In addition to the serpents on their heads, they had tusks like boars, lolling tongues, and bulging eyes. When a person dies, the Serer believe that their soul must make its way to Jaaniiw (a place where good souls go). Gaia, Rhea, and Demeter, for example, are often seen as three closely-bound earth goddesses. After Bai falls in love with and marries a mortal man, Xu Xian, a Buddhist monk, Fahai, reveals her true identity to her husband. She and her sisters, Sthenno and Euryale, were daughters of the sea gods Phorcys and Keto. In Greek mythology, the Gorgon often refers specifically to Medusa. From Odin's mighty horse to a world-circling serpent, Norse Mythology has a cacophony of crazy creatures! Acrisius threw Danae and Perseus into the sea in a wooden chest. The gods often carried their lovers away or used deceit to get their way. He challenged the young man to kill Medusa and bring back her head. Today. On his journeys, he came across the Titan Atlas holding the world on his back and used the head to turn him to stone. Radicals saw the Gorgon herself as a type of revolutionary, taking power from the monstrousness that made her vulnerable. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. This ancient Chinese myth tells the story of a powerful female white snake demon who lives underwater but takes human form as Madame White, or Bai Suzhen. A woman. The vast majority of stories about the gods in Norse mythology focus on the likes of king Odin, invincible Thor and trickster Loki. In one version of the creation story, he and another god, Tezcatlipoca, transformed themselves into snakes and ripped a giant sea monster named Cipactli in half; one part of her became the earth, the other the sky. This was in contrast to English liberty, which had been depicted as wise and powerful Athena. Looking only at the monsters reflection in the shining metal of the shield, he could creep forward without danger. A man. Perseus used the same stealth he had practiced with the Graeae to sneak close. His petrification was slow and painful. Medusa in this telling was separated from her monstrous family members and lived a more human life. The Hopi people of North America viewed snakes as symbols of healing, transformation, and fertility. Was the Griffin a Bird from Greek Mythology? Her features softened. The hero drew his sword, prepared to fight, but realized she was nothing more than a hollow wraith. The most common type of flute in ancient Greece had two bodies, a reflection of the two surviving Gorgons. But the gods help Perseus, and Hermes appears to him and gives him a magical sword, and Athena gives him a mirrored shield. While they didnt have the power of the Gorgons head, they served as a frightening reminder of Athenas curse. As a more sensual villain, Medusas snakes are, once again, linked to Biblical notions of sin and evil. 10. The story of Medusa from Greek mythology is perhaps less well known than Medusa herself. The runic inscription reads: "Hrvisl and Farbjrn and Gunnbjrn". Medusas head was still treated as a frightening object, even when it was shown as being almost entirely human. Perseus was the child of Zeus and the human woman Danae. Healing and snakes were associated in ancient Greek myth with Asclepius, whose snake-familiars would crawl across the bodies of sick people asleep at night in his shrines and lick them back to health. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. Medusa and her sisters, the Gorgons, were the children of the primordial gods Phorcys and Keto. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Snakes were associated with wisdom in many mythologies, perhaps due to the appearance of pondering their actions as they prepare to strike, which was copied by medicine men in the build-up to prophecy in parts of West Africa. In Norse mythology, few stories are as dramatic as that of Jormungand, the . While a few tellings say that Pegasus helped Perseus escape, most agree that the mythical horse would not be tamed until Bellerophon fought the Chimera. It is possible that the Gorgon, one of the most terrifying monsters of Greek mythology, was imagined by some to be an evil counterpart to a three-part goddess. He, in turn, gave the jar to Sterope to protect her city from invasion. Odin Facts & Mythology about the Norse god of Creation and Wisdom It was created by Gaia and killed by Zeus. Today the word myth is often used to describe something that is not true. As Perseus fled the cave, however, he and the Gorgons were no longer alone. She didnt even have to look at her victim it was their gaze that caused their death. Early Greek and English authors also said that Athena was the help Perseus had to behead Medusa. Egyptian myth has had several snake-gods, from the 'coiled one' Mehen who assisted Ra in fighting Aapep every day to the two-headed Nehebkau who guarded the underworld. Perseus was the real bad guy. name was later used for the great serpents Poseidon, Medusa within her temple infuriated the goddess, Medusa as a former beauty afflicted by a terrible curse, characters in stories with direct links to Greek mythology. She vowed to be celibate her entire life as a priestess of Athena until she fell in love with Poseidon. Donatella Versace. Even in the stories that came before descriptions of her beauty, Medusas tale was bound to the god Poseidon. His first mission was to find and defeat the Graeae. The presiding deity here is Nagaraja - a five-headed snake god born to human parents as a blessing for their caretaking of snakes during a fire. Because of this, it has become a widely-recognized icon. The blood could be used to destroy or restore and enabled him to bring people back from the dead. It was shown with three heads, each of a different animal, growing along the length of its body. Norse mythology is a source of inspiration for many art enthusiasts, particularly when it comes to tattoos. . With so many great entries, even that limitation only made it slightly easier! Medusa is a woman with impenetrable scales and snakes for hair, and anyone who looks at her turns to stone - killing her should be an impossible feat. Top 10 Greek Mythology Movies by caspian1978 | created - 20 Jan 2014 | updated - 20 Jan 2014 | Public . Perseus, therefore, with Athena guiding his hand, kept his eyes on the reflection in a bronze shield as he stood over the sleeping Gorgones, and when he saw the image of Medousa, he beheaded her. With the help of the gods, the hero was able to kill one of the most terrifying monsters in the world. Also, in Norse mythology, the snake biting its tail symbolized the sea as the eternal ring which enclosed the world. In turning men to stone, however, Medusas anger reflected the rage women felt about these experiences. The Wolf, the Witch, and the Giant by Kit Kat Kata. Norse Goddesses in Norse Mythology - Norse and Viking Mythology Medusa is seen by some today as the first example of victim blaming. He also exists in Germanic mythology as Woden (in Old English), Wodan (in Old . Later writers would identify this as Libya, and in the Roman era Virgil said that it was at the gates of the Underworld. In their climactic confrontation, Thor slew the serpent with his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, but only made it nine paces before falling dead himself, poisoned by the serpents deadly venom. But there is much more to the legend of Medusa than just her beheading, and her legacy is far more complicated than that of any other ancient monster. These white supremacists often co-opt fields like Classics, medievalism, and Norse mythology to support their racist ideologiestwisting these disciplines and repressing or ignoring evidence for the multicultural and multiracial realities of the ancient and medieval world. Rivers and lakes often had snake-gods or snake-guardians including Untekhi the fearsome water-spirit of the Missouri River. The menacing face of the monster became a totem of protection. Perseus: Perseus was a demi-God in the Greek mythology who rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster. Ovid, however, makes it very clear that Poseidons actions were not romantic. The winged stallion Pegasus is the offspring of the god Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, from whose neck he was born . [24][25], The Hopi people of North America performed an annual snake dance to celebrate the union of Snake Youth (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Underworld spirit), and to renew fertility of Nature. Greek writers never specified why only one Gorgon sister was mortal. Medusa is one of the spirits often said to lurk at the gates of the underworld, lifeless but unable to fully pass into the next realm. According to most sources, she had two sisters that lived alongside her. Medusa wasnt just mentioned again on earth. The Head of Medusa, painted by Peter Paul Rubens. Greek Mythology and Norse Mythology Crossover | FanFiction In the broadest terms myths are traditional stories about gods, kings, and heroes. Judeo-Christian belief had always seen snakes as part of mankinds fall from perfection and her serpentine hair made Medusa more recognizably evil than ever. The power of Medusas head was so potent that it could petrify even the largest and strongest of the Titans. Gorgon - Greek Mythological Monster | Mythology.net Medusa in Greek Mythology. While her sisters killed men with their fangs and claws, Medusas power was passive. Concept art: Medusa, Assassin's Creed. Myths often relate the creation of the world and sometimes its future destruction as well. For instance, after slaying Medusa, he severs her head and carries it with him, using its gaze to petrify enemies. The image of the brave hero slaying the hideous beast endures in art, poetry, and song. The religion went into decline around a thousand years ago when Christianity swept through the north of Europe.

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